A potential pitfall of using an automated system like Expressions to create lip syncanimation, is it can make your animations look a little bit, robotic and unnatural.In this example I've used the time remap valueand linked that to some keyframes created by my audio.If I just select a layer in my compusing the Keyframe Assistant > Convert Audio to Keyframes.So those keyframes are powering the time remap value,to make the mouth move in time with the audio.

So let's have a look at that without any additional expression.Now you can see because she maintains the same facialexpression throughout the whole animation,it looks a bit unnatural.And what I've done here is I've created compositionmarkers where I want her face to change expression.And that makes it easy for me to jump to those pointson the time line by hitting the number keys one, two, three, etc.

So, what I want to do is have that change.Now, the other thing that I've done is I've created a controller layer.Which is just a nulllayer and if I double-click the expression, facial expression,this is an expression control effect that I've renamed.It's just a slider control effect that I applied by goingto Expression Controls > Slider, and then I've renamed it Facial Expression.Now, if we have a look at my animation, the original animation.

Let's just go into mymouth composition. I'll double-click that to open it.And you'll see in here, I have a regular mouth, a normal mouth, then I have ahappy mouth, and then I have a sad mouth. Okay, and normal is between zero and one.Happy is between one and two. And sad is between two and three.So basically what I want to do is use the key frames for each expression byreferring to those values. How do I do that?Well, here we'll have a look at the expressions.

So we go back into the main composition.Select the mouth comp, double hit the E key on the keyboard.And let's have a look at what this expression does, first of all.So first of all, I've used a variable A, and I'vesaid, make that equal this comp layer, audio amplitude, both channels,effect slider value.So basically this is the value coming from these keyframes here, which come from the levels of the audio.Then I've said, create a second variable which equalsthe expression control slider, which is giving me a value.

And then here is the final expression.So I've used the linear expression to take the value from A,which is the audio amplitude, convert it between, from valuesbetween zero and 27 to values between zero and one.Okay, and that's just basically giving me the opening and closingmouth shapes, so I'm using values between zero and one second.And then, I offset it just by addingthe value returned by the controller, expression controller.

So, how does that work?Well, at the beginning, I haven't added anything to it.So we've just got the regular mouth shape, playing between zero and one second.If we move to the second marker, by hitting two onthe keyboard, then what I can do is I can say, okay.Make this the second facial value by adding the value of one.So now she's smiling, okay?Then we can add a third one.So let's go to three and let's make her sad.Let's go to the two second mark so it'sstarting at two seconds and animating between two and three.

And if we preview that.>> So you'll see now I can change the expression.And if you go to the Project panel, and open 03b_LipSync Expression End,and preview that, you'll see I've added a few more keyframes to that.Now, it's important that you use held keyframes because ifyou don't use held keyframes, it will animate between the points.If you're not sure how to do that, you right-click on the keyframes and sayToggle Hold Keyframe, and that will create a held value soit suddenly changes from one value to another, instead of gradually.

So let's take a look at that one.>> So there you see how you can use the slider to create facial expressions.Now have a think about the eyes, you could also use controllers to change thedirection that the eyes are looking, or maybemake the eyes open and close, or blink.You could use like a random or a wiggle expression to make her eyes blink.Have a think about how you can use expressions justto add a bit of realism to your lip sync orcharacter animations in this way.

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2/19/2014

Even if you're not comfortable with scripting or coding, you may still want to take a look at expressions. They are like little scripts that trigger changes to layer properties, and they can save you time, make your work more flexible, and open up new creative possibilities. In this course, motion graphic designer Angie Taylor shows you how to make Adobe After Effects expressions work for you, starting with building expressions with the pick whip. Then she introduces JavaScript-based math expressions, which allow you to adjust timing and movement, and her favorite "no brainer" expressions, such as property linking and connecting camera focus to layers. Plus, discover how to react to sound, play with color, format text, and link 2D and 3D properties.